This is the first study to evaluate effects of AS on CT. CT was high in patients with AS compared to healthy controls.

The use of topical ocular hypotensive medication in eyes with OAG results in an increase in CT. This increase is relatively greater with bimatoprost 0.03% therapy compared to BTFC.

Purpose. To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of ocular biometry and intraocular lens (IOL) power measurements obtained by ophthalmology residents using an AL-Scan device, a novel optical biometer. Methods. Two ophthalmology residents were instructed regarding the AL-Scan device. Both performed ocular biometry and IOL power measurements using AL-Scan, three times on each of 128 eyes, independently of one another. Corneal keratometry readings, horizontal iris width, central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, pupil size, and axial length values measured by both residents were recorded together with IOL power values calculated on the basis of four different IOL calculation formulas (SRK/T, Holladay, and HofferQ). Repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements obtained were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results. Repeatability (ICC, 0.872-0.999 for resident 1 versus 0.905-0.999 for resident 2) and reproducibility (ICC, 0.916-0.999) were high for all biometric measurements. Repeatability (ICC, 0.981-0.983 for resident 1 versus 0.995-0.996 for resident 2) and reproducibility were also high for all IOL power measurements (ICC, 0.996 for all). Conclusions. The AL-Scan device exhibits good repeatability and reproducibility in all biometric measurements and IOL power calculations, independent of the operator concerned.

BackgroundPatients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have higher choroidal thickness values (CT) compared to controls.ObjectivesTo quantitatively asses the profile of CT in patients with AS using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to examine whether the posterior eye segment abnormalities in active AS patients were reversible by infliximab therapyMethodsThirty-one patients with AS receiving infliximab therapy and 24 healthy controls were enrolled. Patient's clinical and demographic characteristics were recorded. Using OCT, we performed retinal imaging and choroidal thickness measurements in AS patients before and after 6 months of infliximab therapy, and in healthy controls who returned 6 months after the first visit. We compared patients before versus 6 months after infliximab therapy, as well as controls.ResultsPatients with AS had higher CT (mean± SD; 347.5±114.4 μm) compared to healthy controls (322.1±62.8 μm) (p=0.283), although this did not reach statistical significance. At 6 months after the first measurement, the mean CT was significantly decreased (after treatment with infliximab: 326.5±99.7μm vs. before: 347.5±114.4 μm, n=31, p=0.018) in AS group, but not in the control group (p=0.102). Retinal nerve fiber layer was significantly decreased at 6 months after treatment with infliximab in AS group (106.4±13.5 μm vs 105.0±13.0μm p=0.008).ConclusionsThis is the first study to evaluate the posterior eye segment in patients with AS using OCT. Our data indicate that CT abnormalities in active AS is reversible by therapy, and this CT decreasing effect of infliximab may be involved in its effective suppressing action of uveitis attacks in AS.ReferencesBalaskas K, Ballabeni P, Guex-Crosier Y. Retinal thickening in HLA-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis: evolution with time and association with severity of inflammatory activity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012 14;53(10):6171–7.Kola M, Kalkışım A, Karkucak M, Turk A, Capkın E, Can I, Serdar OF, Mollamehmetoglu S, Ayar A. Evaluating of choroid thickness in Ankylosing spondylitis using optical coherence tomography. Ocular immunology and inflammation. 2014, 22(6):434–8.Disclosure of InterestNone declared

No abstract

Objectives This study aims to quantitatively assess the profile of the choroidal thickness (ChT) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to examine whether the posterior eye segment abnormalities in active AS patients are reversible by infliximab therapy. Patients and methods October 2014 and March 2016 Thirty-one patients with AS (22 males, 9 females; mean age 39.6±12.3 years; range, 22 to 68 years) and 24 healthy controls (16 males, 8 females; mean age 40.8±8.9 years; range, 35 to 61 years) were enrolled. Patients’ clinical and demographic characteristics were recorded. Using OCT, we performed retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell complex, and ChT measurements in AS patients before and six months after the initiation of infliximab therapy, and in healthy controls. Results At baseline, patients with AS had higher ChT (mean±standard deviation: 347.5±114.4 μm) compared to healthy controls (322.1±62.8 μm), although this did not reach statistical significance level (p=0.283). At six months after the first measurement, the mean ChT was significantly decreased (under infliximab therapy: 326.5±99.7 μm vs. before: 347.5±114.4 μm, p=0.018) in AS group, while no significant change was observed in the control group (p=0.102). RNFL thickness in the AS group was significantly decreased after six months of treatment with infliximab (p=0.008). Conclusion By evaluating the posterior eye segment of patients with AS using OCT, this study has demonstrated that active AS patients had higher ChT. The significant reduction in this ChT after infliximab therapy may be mediating the established effective suppressing action of infliximab on uveitis attacks.

AIM: To investigate the influence of non-oil 95 (N95)/filtering facepiece 2 (FFP2) facemask wear on retinal thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), and ganglion cell layer thickness (GCLT) in healthy subjects. METHODS: In this prospective study, 53 healthy participants who used FFP2/N95 facemask were enrolled. Participants underwent optical coherence tomography imaging before and at 1 and 4h following FFP2/N95 facemask wear. The last imaging session was performed 1h after FFP2/N95 removal. Retinal thickness, CT, RNFLT, and GCLT were assessed at each session. Vital parameters were also assessed. RESULTS: The pulse rate of the subjects significantly decreased at 1 and 4h compared to baseline values (P<0.05). No significant changes in retinal thickness, RNFLT, and GCLT were observed in the study. CT profile showed a significant increase at all measured locations except 1-mm temporal, 1-mm inferior and 2-mm inferior points following FFP2/N95 wear which turned to baseline values after FFP2/N95 removal. Pulse rate and CT changes at 4h were significantly correlated (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Parasympathetic activation during FFP2/N95 facemask wear might have a role on elevated CT measurements in healthy individuals by virtue of increased choroidal blood flow.

Objectives To investigate retinal findings by comparing patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with the control group. Methods In this prospective study, 188 eyes of 94 recovered COVID-19 patients and 108 eyes of 54 healthy participants as a control group were evaluated. Patients were divided into three groups, those with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19. Refractometry, tonometry, optical biometry, optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements, and complete ophthalmological examinations were performed on healthy volunteers and COVID-19 patients on average 2 weeks after discharge. Pulse O2 and vital parameters were also assessed. Primary outcomes were evaluated, such as retinal findings, and secondary outcomes as retinal thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and ganglion cell layer thickness. Results There was no difference between the groups in terms of demographic data, ocular biometry, and intraocular pressure (p > 0.05). Pulse O2 was lower in the study group (p < 0.001). Retinal findings were detected in 68 (36.1%) of 188 eyes in the study group and 28 (25.9%) of 108 eyes in the control group (p = 0.07). The two most common retinal findings were hypertensive retinopathy and retinal pigment epithelium alterations and/or drusen in both groups. In OCT measurements, significant thinning was observed in nasal macular thickness and superior 2 mm CT in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In patients divided into subgroups according to disease severity, no significant difference was found between the groups in any OCT parameter (p > 0.05). Conclusion It has been observed that COVID-19 infection does not cause a specific and sensitive finding in the ocular tissues, especially the retina, and does not produce a reproducible measurement result. Recommending routine eye exam after COVID-19 does not seem cost-effective.